The Eyes of Count Basilio
In a secret chamber deep within the heart of the Empire, the walls gleamed with golden ornamentation.
Thick curtains sealed every side, and a magical barrier had been woven so that not a single sound could escape.
And there—
Bang!
A man slammed the cup in his hand down onto the desk so hard it nearly shattered. The metal vessel rattled and trembled, and the subordinate kneeling on one knee before him flinched.
The man demanded at once,
“Is that… truly the truth? That the Fourth Defense Line in the Northeast—Elbarphiel Lake—has been retaken!”
His face twisted with fury and suspicion alike.
Only if the North remained under the proper degree of tension could their own affairs continue without interference. Yet the successive reports of victory that had been arriving of late were seriously unsettling him.
Even so, the subordinate kept his head bowed and reported in a steady voice.
“According to Sharokl’s report from the Fourth Defense Line… there was a completely unexpected variable in this battle.”
“A variable? What exactly happened?”
“One soldier faced two Kar Tribe warriors of commander rank and killed one of them. Without his performance, victory would have been all but impossible.”
“…”
The man’s eyes narrowed to sharp slits.
Commanders of the Kar Tribe facing the Fourth Defense Line…
“Those would be bastards with at least four Feather Tattoos. That level is equivalent to a 4-Star… no, nearly 5-Star. And you’re telling me he fought two of them at once? Who in the world could manage such a thing!”
It was incomprehensible. Only someone who had already reached the 5-Star realm could possibly pull that off.
Yet in the face of his master’s rage the subordinate only bowed his head lower.
“…A soldier named Arteon.”
“Arteon?”
The moment he heard the name, deep creases formed between the man’s brows. It was a name that had already appeared in several reports.
They said the boy showed promise… but he was still just a boy soldier.
“You’re saying he’s that strong?”
“We have not yet determined the precise level he has reached. However, looking at his record, he also played a decisive role in the victory at Helikel Canyon on the Northwestern First Defense Line. And in the recent battle for Elbarphiel Lake he is regarded as the one who earned the greatest merit of all.”
The man’s expression hardened. Instinct told him something was going badly wrong.
Tap… tap… tap…
Without realizing it, he drummed his index finger against the desk. Then something suddenly came to him.
“Back when the Helikel Canyon incident occurred… didn’t we send the shadows after him to eliminate the boy?”
“About that…”
The subordinate’s voice trembled low. The man’s eyes lifted.
“Stop stalling and report!”
At the barked order the subordinate continued.
“Contact with them was lost at some point.”
“Lost? What do you mean?”
“They all… appear to be dead.”
In that instant the man’s eyes flashed. The air in the room froze solid, and a cold weight of tension pressed down on their shoulders.
“…”
He said nothing for a long moment, only exhaled a deep breath.
For things to have reached this state…
Is someone watching us and deliberately interfering…?
Or had the boy grown strong enough to intercept the shadows’ ambush and dispose of them without a sound?
Countless thoughts tangled in his mind. Yet one fact was certain: that boy was no longer a mere child soldier.
After a stretch of silence the man fixed his subordinate with a direct stare and issued his command.
“Halt every operation until we grasp the full situation. And place Arteon under thorough surveillance. If necessary, find a way to bring him over to our side. Money, honor, rank—whatever it takes.”
“Understood.”
A dark smile curved the man’s lips.
“And should persuasion prove impossible…”
He deliberately left the sentence unfinished. The subordinate already understood what followed. Bowing his head, he answered quietly,
“It will be handled without fail.”
The man looked down at him with eyes of ice and spoke with finality.
“Do not disappoint me this time. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Count Basilio.”
When his name was spoken, the Count turned his gaze toward the window. The cold wind blowing from the distant North only made his heart feel colder still.
In that moment a chill seemed to settle over the entire hall.
Looking down from the platform at Leorn, Velkain’s eyes held the same frozen cold as the northern winds.
Leorn could not hide his flustered expression as he asked,
“C-Commander… what do you mean by that…?”
“I have uncovered every order you have issued, every fact you have concealed, and every shameful act you have committed against both the soldiers and the officers under your command.”
Velkain took one step forward and continued in a voice like winter steel.
“Each of your orders drove countless soldiers to their deaths, and the front lines were dyed with their blood. Reckless advances, retreats that abandoned all responsibility, and commands that no commander should ever give… Countless testimonies and reports confirm it all.”
Leorn’s face drained of color by degrees.
“C-Commander, that is—!”
“I have no need of excuses.”
Velkain’s voice rang out with absolute finality.
“Major Leorn, you have forfeited the right to command. From this moment you will stand trial for your past deeds, and punishment will be decided according to the verdict.”
“C-Commander! This is absurd! It’s a conspiracy! Commander, please listen to me!”
“Arrest Leorn and take him away. Confine him in the temporary prison until further orders regarding his disposition are issued.”
The instant Velkain’s command fell, soldiers carrying thick rope advanced on him.
Staring at the men closing in, Leorn shouted,
“Do you even know who I am?! I am innocent!”
His roar achieved nothing. When the soldiers seized both his arms he thrashed and screamed,
“Let go! Let go of me! I haven’t done anything wrong! Commander! What kind of madness is this?! I am innocent!”
His cries dwindled as the soldiers dragged him away. Watching his figure grow smaller, the soldiers remaining in the hall exchanged bewildered looks. The question What in the world just happened? filled their eyes, yet no one opened his mouth. Quite a few of them already had a rough idea why this was happening.
The atmosphere of the awards ceremony had turned chaotic in an instant.
Then Staff Sergeant Claw’s voice cut across the platform, powerful and clear.
“All hands, attennnn-tion!”
At the thunderous cry the soldiers snapped their heads toward him in surprise. With every eye now fixed on him, Claw announced the close of the ceremony.
“With this, the meritorious awards for the victory of the Fourth Defense Line battle are concluded. Continue to strive for even greater excellence.”
Whatever disorder had existed moments earlier vanished at once. Under Claw’s shout the soldiers’ eyes regained the hard focus of true fighting men.
“Yes, sir!”
A roaring cheer filled the hall.
Thus the awards ceremony ended.
“Platoon Leader!”
“Platoon Leader, a double promotion and a hundred gold… you’ll have to treat us, won’t you?”
“Congratulations, Platoon Leader.”
The men of the 3rd Platoon crowded around, offering their congratulations on Arteon’s promotion and reward.
But then—
“Arteon, Staff… no, Lieutenant. The Commander requests your presence.”
A soldier approached and spoke. Arteon simply nodded.
“Lead the way.”
Following the soldier into Velkain’s tent, Arteon found both Velkain and Claw waiting. He saluted.
“For the Heart of Steel!”
“Take a seat.”
“Yes, sir.”
Arteon sat with perfect posture. Velkain spoke first.
“Congratulations once again. You accomplished something truly remarkable this time.”
“I merely did what had to be done.”
“Not everyone can do what ‘has to be done.’ You achieved something extraordinary.”
Claw, standing beside him, added his own agreement. Arteon only nodded in silence.
Then Velkain’s expression grew somewhat heavier.
“There is something else you need to know.”
“What is it, sir?”
At the question Velkain glanced at Claw. Claw nodded and drew a scrap of cloth from his tunic. An unfamiliar emblem was embroidered on the fabric, though the edges were ragged and torn.
Claw said,
“There were people moving against you. This is the emblem sewn into their clothing.”
“…People targeting me?”
Arteon’s face hardened. Claw held the cloth out to him.
“Fortunately the Commander was already watching the situation, so we dealt with them early… but you should know that someone has been observing you—and attempting to eliminate you.”
“…”
Arteon did not ask why. He already had a fair idea of the reason.
Perhaps that was why Velkain asked,
“Do you have any idea who it might be?”
“…None at all, sir.”
Arteon shook his head. Velkain could not possibly be unaware of the political games surrounding the North. Yet if the Commander himself chose not to raise the subject, Arteon saw no need to speak first.
Velkain nodded.
“In any case, stay alert to your surroundings from now on. And… I didn’t call you here only for that. What you said earlier—were you sincere?”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“The part about wanting to go somewhere that would make you stronger.”
Velkain was referring to the words Arteon had spoken on the platform. Arteon answered without the slightest hesitation.
“Of course. I want to become… stronger than I am now.”
More accurately, I must become stronger.
Hearing that, Velkain continued,
“Retaking Elbarphiel Lake has left us with a great deal of work. We will of course have to advance north of the lake and establish new positions… but the most urgent task is to pull the entire line up as far as the western terrain relative to the northern shore of the lake.”
“West of the northern shore of the lake…”
Arteon’s eyes narrowed. There was no place in the North he did not know.
West of the northern end of Elbarphiel Lake—where part of the mountain range that continued from the lake opened into a narrow canyon. A path existed, yet it was so tight that more than ten men could scarcely walk abreast. The terrain was even harsher than the hill where the Fourth Defense Line currently held. Natural cliffs and boulders made cavalry virtually impossible, and even infantry could not move quickly.
Arteon’s eyes grew sharper still. Velkain pressed on.
“That is why we are forming a unit to send there. The force will number fewer than two hundred, but every man will have to be elite.”
Velkain’s gaze flashed.
“What do you say to going there?”
At the proposal Arteon sank into thought. If Velkain was speaking this way, the place would be extremely dangerous.
But…
Elbarphiel Lake had contained Ether’s Heart; there had been a reason to risk everything to go there. This new destination offered no such prize—only harsh conditions that would make even proper training nearly impossible.
Arteon hesitated.
Then Velkain added,
“The commander of the special unit will be Lukael Hargeil.”
And in that instant—
Lukael Hargeil…?
That man is coming here…?
Arteon’s pupils began to tremble violently.